Treatment of steel, iron, and similar articles



"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. nAINEs, 01 EAST CLEVELAND, 01-110, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, To THE CLEVELAND METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, 0E CLEVELAND,01110, A COR- PORATION OF OHIO.

TREATMENT OF STEEL, IRON, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. BAINES, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at East Cleveland, Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in the Treatment of Steel, Iron, and SimilarArticles, 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of iron or steel or articleshaving surfaces of iron or steel.

One object of the present invention is to provide iron or steel orarticles having a surface of iron or steel with a protective coatingadapted to render the ,articles capable of resisting the action ofmoisture or other oxidizing or rusting influences. Another object of theinvention is to prevent the solution from oxidizing, whereby thearticles to be treated may be effectively coated and the solution bemaintained in efficient working condition. This results in coating thearticles in a rapid and eflicient manner and in a material saving of thesolution and of the ingredients contained therewithin. This objectisrealized b including in the solution an agent capab e of evolvingnascent hydrogen energetically, the hydrogen thus liberated combiningwith any free oxygen in the solution to prevent the oxidation of thelatter and maintain it in a working condition.

In carrying out the method of treating the articles, the latter areimmersed in a solution of a salt of phosphorous or hypophosphorous acid,or a mixture of the same, said solution being heated preferably to theboiling point. Through this treatment, the articles will be providedwith a phosphite or hypophosphite coating, intermingled with theoriginal salt or salts, the articles being both impregnated and coated.

The nascent hydrogen may be evolved from the surface of the articles byany of the usuaLmethods. For instance, the articles may be made acathode or cathodes of an electric circuit, or an alternating currentmay be used, or a dilute acid, such as sulfuric acid may be added as theagentto set up the nascent hydrogen.

When the sulfuric or equivalent acid is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed September 6, 1916. Serial No. 118,745.

hydrogen, being in a nascent condition, will exercise a reducing actionupon the solution to prevent oxidation thereof.

A solution or compound which gives satisfactory results is as follows:

Ferrous phosphite Fe (P0 2 1 lb. Water 1 gallon. Sulfuric acid 2 ozs.

the nature of the coating desired. I may substitute zinc, cobalt,nickel, cadmium, chromium, or other phosphites or hypo phosphites ormixtures of phosphites and hyphophosphites for a ferrous phosphite. Forthe sulfuric acid I may substitute hydrochloric or any other suitableacid of the proper strength.

For varying the texture or color of the protective coating I may addsubstances of a gelatinous or amorphous nature, such forinstance, asaluminum phosphate. For coloring or altering the texture of the coatingI may add inert materials to the solution, such for instance, as cobaltsilicate or other inert silicates, oxids, etc. In the use of theseagents for coloringv or altering the texture of the coating it will. beunderstood that the metal is immersed in a solution of a salt or saltsof phosphorous or hypophosphorous acids, or any combination thereof, andthat by the added mixture of sulfuric acid with the solution,nascent-hydrogen will be evolved energetically therein or by the use ofan electric current, such hydrogen will be evolved energetically at thesurface of the articles, the nascent hydrogen combining with any freeoxygen that may be in the solution to prevent the oxidationof thelatter.

What is claimed, is:

l. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, Whichcomprises subjecting the same to the action of a phosphitesolution in the. presence of an agent capable of preventing theoxidation of the solution.

2, The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a phosphitesolution in the presence of nascent hydrogen.

3. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a solutionof a capable of depositing with or forming upon said articles aprotective coating in the presence of an agent capable of evolvingnascent hydrogen in the lution.

4. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a solutioncontaining phosphorous acid in the presence of nascent hydrogen.

5. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a solutioncontaining phosphorous and hypophosphorous acids in the presence ofnascent hydrogen.

6. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of ironorsteel, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a solutioncontaining phosphorous acid.

7. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, which comprises subjecting the articles to the action of asolution containing a phosphorous salt in the presence of an acidcapable of forming phosphorous acid with such salt.

phosphorous compound body of said so- 8. The treatment of iron, steel,or articles having a surface of iron or steel, which comprisessubjecting the articles to the action of a solutioncontaining salts ofphosphorous and hypophosphorous acids in the presence of sulfuric acid.

9. The treatment of iron, steel, or articles having a surface of iron orsteel, which comprises subjecting the articles to the action of asolution containing ferrous phosphite, water and sulfuric acid in aboutthe proportions specified.

10. A solution or compound for preventing the oxidation or. rusting ofiron or steel comprising ferrous phosphite, water, and an acid capableof formingphosphorous acid With such ferrous phosphite.

11. A solution or compound for preventing the oxidation or rusting ofiron or steel comprising ferrous phosphite, Water, and an acid capableof forming phosphorous acid with the ferrous phosphite and of evolvingnascent hydrogen in such solution.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

HENRY C. BAINES.

, Witnesses:

R. BAmEs, GEORGE A. HUBBARD.

